It’s getting darker earlier and boots and jackets are being busted out, which means winter is
coming.To prepare for the cold and snow, the Family Handyman editors have assembled these winterizing tips.•
Wiper blades: When you’re driving and it’s dumping snow, you want to be able to see through the windshield.
Traditional blades can get packed with snow and cause limited visibility. Winter wiper blades are wrapped in
a rubber boot that prevents ice and snow from sticking or packing, which makes for better visibility.•
Plumbing pipes: If you have a cabin or summer home not in use in the winter, it is important to shut off the
water supply and drain all of the water from the pipes. In order to ensure that water actually drains fully,
it is critical that faucets, tubs, sinks or any plumbing fixture are turned on. Pour nontoxic anti-freeze
into any sink drain, shower drain or toilet to make sure there is no chance of water freezing.• Garden
tools: Place tools in a bucket of clean water and scrape them. Next, sharpen tools so they are ready to cut
into the hard soil of next spring. Store tools away for the winter in a bucket filled with coarse sand and a
bit of motor oil to keep tools clean, rust-free and sharpened.• The grill: If you are not a winter griller,
now’s the time to pack away the grill before it’s covered with a foot of snow. Give your grill a thorough
cleaning to remove grease and food scraps, then shut off the gas and unfasten the burner.